Graduates Leave Colorful Legacy in Chatsworth Cafeteria

Chatsworth Elementary School’s graduating class of fifth graders is leaving a colorful and thoughtful legacy – a collection of murals painted directly onto the walls of the lower-level cafeteria.

The entire class voted on the “character education” words that are the centerpiece of each mural. “Respect” and “kindness” are two that appear in bold lower-case lettering.

A combination of words, symbols and color, new murals at Chatsworth are a gift from this year's graduating class.

Over 100 students worked on the colorful six inch squares that surround each word. The students first sketched a design to symbolize something they had learned or experienced during their elementary career at Chatsworth. They then transferred the designs to the wall and painted them. The borders also include many student handprints.

Working under the direction of Sue Girardi-Sweeney, a local artist and Chatsworth parent volunteer who envisioned the project, the students put in more than forty hours after school. The Chatsworth PTA paid for supplies, and Laurie Rubin-Spangle, another fifth grade parent, helped with scheduling the student painters.

The now completed artwork has added pizzazz to the otherwise institutional white-washed walls. The colors of the panels complement the bold red, blue and green linoleum patterns on the cafeteria floor, which until now were the only splash of color in the room.